Mizoguchi Getting Everywhere...

Few bits in the last few days that make a little more sense now. Firstly, Masters of Cinema (from Eureka!, here in the U.K) are set to release a couple of sets featuring more than anyone would care to shake a stick at - you'll have to wait until 2007, but they're damn good at those DVDs... there's also a boxset of Naruse films on pre-order already.

These 'Masters of Cinema' sets (two in all) feature : Miss Oyu, Ugetsu Monogatari, Gion Festival Music, Sansho Dayu, The Woman of Rumour, Chikamatsu Monogatari, Empress Yang Kwei Fei, Street of Shame...

Alternatively (...and I am still surprised there's not more open support for this new range) there's the IVL DVDs that come out in Hong Kong during November 2006, for : Miss Oyu (1951), Ugetsu (1953), Gion Festival Music (1953) aka A Geisha, The Woman Of The Rumor (1954), Sansho The Bailiff (1954). I have 'Girl of Time' from this new range with me now, and the disc looks lovely to me, more great Japanese Movies on DVD and cheap too, though clearly not Masters of Cinema quality.

Finally, there's a retrospective in New York for Mizoguchi fans which runs September 8th - 21st : Ugetsu, Sansho the Bailiff, Life of Oharu, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums, Sisters of the Gion, Street of Shame.

'Masters of Cinema' Booklet (pdf) with New Announcements Within.
'Kadokawa / Daiei / IVL' Upcoming Releases at AsianDVDGuide.
Mizoguchi Retrospective in New York; pick up Mark LeFanu's Book on Mizoguchi online there now.

Mizoguchi Profile at Senses of Cinema.
Mizoguchi at WikiPedia.
Films of Kenji Mizoguchi by Michael Grost.
Mizoguchi : The Master at Off Screen.